Latrell Mitchell has revealed he went close to backflipping on the Rugby League World Cup, explaining a “rollercoaster” season had him considering whether to spend the time at his farm instead.
Mitchell’s packed 2022 campaign, which featured an NRL semi-final with the Rabbitohs and entire State of Origin series for New South Wales, took on even more when the superstar was selected in the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad.
Mitchell is a member of a 24-man Australian squad set to begin its World Cup campaign in England on Sunday morning (AEDT).
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“I was just thinking about the kids and just going back to my farm, to be honest,” Mitchell told 9News.
“It was a long year, I’ve had a pretty up-and-down, rollercoaster of a season.
“I was sort of contemplating.
“But big Mal (Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga) gave me a call, and I just knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of.
“It was definitely hard, getting on the plane and cruising, because I like staying on the land.”
Mitchell and great mate Josh Addo-Carr are among the senior crop of Kangaroos, with Meninga blooding 13 debutants for the first World Cup since 2017.
The youngest of the uncapped Kangaroos is 19-year-old Cowboys back-rower Jeremiah Nanai.
“I sort of pinch myself a little bit because I was an 18-year-old kid, 19-year-old kid asking the older fellas playing,” Mitchell said.
“It’s freaky,” Addo-Carr added in the 9News interview.
Australia will play its first World Cup match against Fiji at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
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